35% 'Back Labour/SNP Coalition'

19 January 2015, 12:18 | Updated: 19 January 2015, 12:20

A third of Scots want to see a Labour and SNP coalition at Westminster, according to a new poll.

The Survation poll for the Daily Record newspaper revealed that 35.1% of Scottish voters would prefer to see a deal between the two parties after the general election.

A Labour/SNP coalition was the most popular post-election outcome in the survey, which questioned 1,006 people between January 12 and 16.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has previously said she could not envisage the SNP entering a formal coalition with Labour, but could see the party negotiating a "confidence and supply'' arrangement.

Labour leader Ed Miliband has suggested he would not seek a coalition with the SNP, but has failed to categorically rule out such an arrangement.

The poll showed that a majority Labour government was the second most popular result among Scottish voters, with 19.8% backing such an outcome, while 13.8% backed a Tory majority.

A total of 4.7% of people want to see another Tory/Lib Dem coalition, while 8% want to see Labour and the Lib Dems rule together, and 5.5% would like the Tories and Ukip in power.

A further 9.3% favour an SNP/Tory coalition, while 3.8% back a Labour/Ukip pairing.

When asked about voting intentions, 46% of those polled back the SNP, 26% support Labour and 14% back the Tories.

A further 7% intend to vote Lib Dem, while the remaining 7% support other parties.

Those polled were also asked about their voting intentions for the next Holyrood elections in 2016.

Support for the SNP stands at 50% for the constituency vote, with Labour on 26%.

In the regional vote, the SNP is backed by 39% while Labour has 23%.

Commenting on the results, SNP depute leader Stewart Hosie said: "We are taking absolutely nothing for granted and will work hard for every vote in May.

"With Labour MPs voting with the Tories for #30 billion more austerity cuts, people across Scotland can put their trust in the SNP to stand up for their interests, and use our clout in a hung Westminster parliament to end austerity.

"And it's clear that there is widespread support for the greatest possible devolution of powers to Holyrood.

"But the Westminster Government simply isn't willing to give Scotland the powers we need to build a more equal society and more competitive economy - and that is why we need a strong team of SNP MPs elected next May to hold them to account, and ensure that they finally deliver on their vow to Scotland.''

The poll results for the general election would mean substantial gains in the number of SNP MPs returned to Westminster, contrasted with substantial losses for Labour in Scotland.

Many observers believe that Mr Miliband may need support from the nationalists to form a government.

Asked whether he will seek a coalition with the SNP if the election result is not conclusive, the Labour leader said earlier this month: ''I am not about deals and coalitions.``

But during the interview on BBC1's Andrew Marr show, he repeatedly refused to rule out a deal with Ms Sturgeon's party.